Polycephaly

{{Short description|Condition of having more than one head}} {{Redirect|Two heads|the Jefferson Airplane song|After Bathing at Baxter's|Coleman Hell song "2 Heads"|2 Heads (song)}} {{Redirect|Two-headed|the album by Spirit of the West|Two Headed}} {{Redirect|Triple-headed|the rail transport operation|Double-heading}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2015}}

[[File:Tocci-Zwillinge_1881-2-MJ.jpg|thumb|The Tocci Brothers, c. 1881]]

'''Polycephaly''' is the condition of having more than one head. The term is derived from the Greek stems ''poly'' (Greek: "πολύ") meaning "many" and ''kephalē'' (Greek: "κεφαλή") meaning "head".<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sayyed |first=Amit |title=Records of Dicephalic (Two-headed) Snakes from India. |journal=Reptiles & Amphibians |issue=22.2 (2015) |pages=81–82}}</ref> A polycephalic organism may be thought of as one being with a supernumerary body part, or as two or more beings with a shared body.

Two-headed animals (called bicephalic or dicephalic) and three-headed (tricephalic) animals are the only type of multi-headed creatures seen in the real world, and form by the same process as conjoined twins from monozygotic twin embryos.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-10-04 |title=Did you see the snake with two heads? It's not alone |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-10-05/two-headed-animals-causes-and-how-common-are-they/10337640 |access-date=2024-10-08 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>

In humans, there are two forms of twinning that can lead to two heads being supported by a single torso.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Two is a Crowd |date=2019 |pmc=6849862 |last1=Boer |first1=L. L. |last2=Schepens-Franke |first2=A. N. |last3=Oostra |first3=R. J. |journal=Clinical Anatomy |volume=32 |issue=5 |pages=722–741 |doi=10.1002/ca.23387 |pmid=31001856 }}</ref> In dicephalus parapagus dipus, the two heads are side by side.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Paria |first1=Pradipprava |last2=Guha |first2=Debasree |last3=Gayen |first3=Sibnath |last4=Mondal |first4=Probodh Chandra |last5=Som |first5=Sabyasachi |date=2016-12-30 |title=Dicephalus dipus: a rarer siamese |url=https://www.msjonline.org/index.php/ijrms/article/view/793 |journal=International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences |language=en |volume=4 |issue=5 |pages=1733–1734 |doi=10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20161259 |issn=2320-6012|doi-access=free }}</ref> In craniopagus parasiticus, the two heads are joined directly to each other, but only one head has a functional {{nowrap|torso{{px2}}{{mdash}}{{px2}}}}‌in most cases, this manifests as an underdeveloped twin head joined to the head of a developed twin.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kansal |first1=Ritesh |last2=Kale |first2=Chirag |last3=Goel |first3=Atul |date=2010-10-01 |title=Craniopagus parasiticus: A rare case |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967586810002420 |journal=Journal of Clinical Neuroscience |volume=17 |issue=10 |pages=1351–1352 |doi=10.1016/j.jocn.2010.01.053 |issn=0967-5868|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Documented survival into childhood is extremely rare.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Nega |first1=Wassihun |last2=Damte |first2=Meku |last3=Girma |first3=Yonas |last4=Desta |first4=Getachew |last5=Hailemariam |first5=Mengistu |date=2016-12-01 |title=Craniopagus parasiticus - a parasitic head protruding from temporal area of cranium: a case report |journal=Journal of Medical Case Reports |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=340 |doi=10.1186/s13256-016-1023-3 |doi-access=free |issn=1752-1947 |pmc=5134060 |pmid=27906038}}</ref> Survival to adulthood is rare, but does occur in some forms of dicephalus parapagus dipus, as was reported in a case of dicephalic twin born at 36 weeks of gestation to a multigravida mother in central India.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Paria |first1=Pradipprava |last2=Guha |first2=Debasree |last3=Gayen |first3=Sibnath |last4=Mondal |first4=Probodh Chandra |last5=Som |first5=Sabyasachi |date=2016-12-30 |title=Dicephalus dipus: a rarer siamese |url=https://www.msjonline.org/index.php/ijrms/article/view/793 |journal=International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences |language=en |volume=4 |issue=5 |pages=1733–1734 |doi=10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20161259 |issn=2320-6012|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mahajan |first1=Shalaka |last2=Chauhan |first2=Urmila |last3=Gholap |first3=Siddhant |last4=Yelam |first4=Bapu |date=2020 |title=Parapagus dicephalus conjoined twin: a case report |url=https://www.ijpediatrics.com/index.php/ijcp/article/view/2891 |journal=International Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics |language=en |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=217–219 |doi=10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20195757 |issn=2349-3291|doi-access=free }}</ref>

There are many occurrences of multi-headed animals in mythology. In heraldry and vexillology, the double-headed eagle is a common symbol, though no such animal is known to have ever existed.

==Occurrences== Two-headed people and animals, though rare, have long been known to exist and documented.

===Occurrence in humans=== thumb|A (female) case of Dicephalus parapagus.

In humans, as in other animals, partial twinning can result in formation of two heads supported by a single torso. Two ways this can happen are dicephalus parapagus, where there are two heads side by side, and craniopagus parasiticus, where the heads are joined directly.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-12-22 |title=Twins born in Brazil with two heads, one heart |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/health-16300314 |access-date=2022-09-07}}</ref>

====Dicephalus parapagus dipus==== In dicephalus parapagus dipus, the two heads are side by side, on a torso with two legs, with varying levels of twinning of organs and structures within the torso. The shared body may have four arms altogether, or three arms, or two arms only. There are Greek-based medical terms for the variations, e.g. dibrachius means two-armed and tribrachius means three-armed. Both heads may contain a fully formed brain, or one may be anencephalic.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Chatkupt | first1 = Surachat | last2 = Chervenak | first2 = Frank | date = Feb 1993 | title = Antepartum Diagnosis of Discordant Anencephaly in Dicephalic Conjoined Twins | journal = J Clin Ultrasound | volume = 21 | issue = 2 | pages = 138–142 | doi = 10.1002/jcu.1870210212 | pmid = 8381135 | s2cid = 28491454 }}</ref> If carried to term, dicephalus parapagus twins are usually stillborn, or die soon after birth. Survival to adulthood does however occasionally occur in cases where the twins are born with three to four arms.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Harma | first1 = M. | last2 = Oksuzier | first2 = C. | date = Feb 2005 | title = Vaginal delivery of dicephalic parapagus conjoined twins: case report and literature review | url = https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/tjem/205/2/205_2_179/_pdf | journal = Tohoku J. Exp. Med. | volume = 205 | issue = 2 | pages = 179–85 | doi = 10.1620/tjem.205.179 | pmid = 15673976 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Chances of survival are improved if two complete hearts are present.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Başaran |first1=Sibel |last2=Sarpel |first2=Tunay |date=2013 |title=Parapagus (dicephalus, tetrabrachius, dipus) conjoined twins and their rehabilitation |url=http://www.turkishjournalpediatrics.org/pediatrics/pdf/pdf_TJP_1160.pdf |journal=Turkish Journal of Pediatrics |issue=55 |pages=102 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131204838/http://www.turkishjournalpediatrics.org/pediatrics/pdf/pdf_TJP_1160.pdf |archive-date=January 31, 2016 }}</ref> Separation surgery is contraindicated, except in cases where one of the twins is clearly dying.<ref>{{cite book |last= Quigley|first= Christine|date= 2006|title= Conjoined Twins|publisher= McFarland|page= 56|isbn=1476603235}}</ref> Case reports of early diagnosis and outcomes, including the Turkish prenatal case and the Nigerian anencephalic variant, add credibility to claims about survival and medical complexity <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Usang |first1=Usang E. |last2=Olasode |first2=Babatunde J. |last3=Archibong |first3=Ayi E. |last4=Udo |first4=Jacob J. |last5=Eduwem |first5=Diana-Abasi U. |date=2010-02-05 |title=Dicephalus parapagus conjoined twins discordant for anencephaly: a case report |journal=Journal of Medical Case Reports |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=38 |doi=10.1186/1752-1947-4-38 |pmid=20181096 |doi-access=free |issn=1752-1947|pmc=2829596 }}</ref>

Giacomo and Giovanni Battista Tocci (born between 1875 and 1877), were dicephalus parapagus dipus twins who survived to adulthood. Each had his own pair of arms. They learned to speak several languages, but never learned to walk. Abigail and Brittany Hensel, born in 1990, are another instance of dicephalus parapagus dipus twins who grew up. They were born with two functional arms, plus a vestigial third arm, which was surgically removed. Each twin has her own complete head, heart and spine, and controls one arm and one leg. They developed good motor skills, and completed courses at school and university.<ref name="hensel" />

====Craniopagus parasiticus==== thumb|left|Drawing of the eighteenth century Boy of Bengal, affected by craniopagus parasiticus. Craniopagus parasiticus is an extremely rare condition in which the two heads are joined directly together, and one twin (known as the autosite) has a functioning torso, while the other (known as the parasite) has only a vestigial torso. The parasite is supported by blood supplied from the autosite head. This threatens the life of the autosite by placing an additional burden on the autosite's vital organs. Operations to separate the two heads have been performed in the hope of saving the autosite. thumb|Skeletal structure in a case of dicephalus parapagus dipus. From: Hirst & Piersol, 1893.

===Occurrence in animals=== Polycephalic animals often make local news headlines when found. The most commonly observed two-headed animals are turtles and snakes.<ref name="pravda">{{cite news |url=http://english.pravda.ru/science/19/94/377/11400_anomaly.html |title=Two-Headed Creatures |work=Pravda |first=Svetlana |last=Anina |date=November 29, 2003 |access-date=December 31, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070125233002/http://english.pravda.ru/science/19/94/377/11400_anomaly.html |archive-date=January 25, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Other species with known two-headed occurrences include cattle, sheep, pigs, cats, dogs, and fish. In 1894, a two-headed partridge was reported in Boston, Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/279028602.html?dids=279028602:279028602&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=MAY+06%2C+1894&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=A+TWO-HEADED+PARTRIDGE. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001045148/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/279028602.html?dids=279028602:279028602&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=MAY+06,+1894&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=A+TWO-HEADED+PARTRIDGE. |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 1, 2007 |title=A two-headed partridge |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 6, 1894 |access-date=December 31, 2006}}</ref> It was notable as a dicephalic animal for surviving into adulthood with two perfect heads. Scientists have published in modern journals about dissecting such animals since at least the 1930s.<ref name="pravda" /> A 1929 paper studied the anatomy of a two-headed kitten.<ref name="pravda" />

Polycephalic animals, due to their rarity, are a subject of novelty. "We", a two-headed albino rat snake born in captivity in 2000 with both female and male genitalia, was scheduled to be auctioned on eBay with an expected price tag of $150,000 (£87,000), though their policy of not trading in live animals prevented the sale.<ref name="bbcsnake1">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4577258.stm |title=Two-headed snake 'up for auction' |work=BBC News |date=January 3, 2006 |access-date=March 10, 2006}}</ref><ref name="wemsnbc">{{cite news |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/19334041 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413033522/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/19334041/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 13, 2013 |title='We' the 2-headed snake's long odd life ends |publisher=NBC News |access-date=June 20, 2007}}</ref> On October 31, 2006, the World Aquarium<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldaquarium.org/ |title=World Aquarium |access-date=December 31, 2006 |archive-date=September 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120918005927/http://www.worldaquarium.org/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> announced that "We" was adopted by Nutra Pharma Corporation, a biotechnology company developing treatments using modified cobra venom and cobratoxin.<ref name="nutrapharma-we1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nutrapharma.com/display.php?newsid=91 |title=Nutra Pharma Adopts Famous 2-Headed Snake of St. Louis' World Aquarium |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061119130815/http://www.nutrapharma.com/display.php?newsid=91 |archive-date=November 19, 2006 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> "We" died of natural causes at age seven in June 2007, not long after being acquired by Nutra Pharma.<ref name="wemsnbc"/>

Two-headed farm animals sometimes travel with animal side shows to county fairs. Most notably, The Venice Beach Freakshow supposedly houses the largest collection of two-headed specimens in the world, including over 20 two-headed animals that are alive. Many museums of natural history contain preserved two-headed animals. The Museum of Lausanne<ref name="lausanne">{{cite web |url=http://www-sst.unil.ch/Musee/default_e.htm |title=Le Musée cantonal de Géologie (The Museum of Lausanne) |access-date=December 31, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108110210/http://www-sst.unil.ch/Musee/default_e.htm |archive-date=January 8, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> in Lausanne, Switzerland, and the Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, have collections of preserved two-headed animals. A very well preserved 2-headed lamb is on display in Llanidloes museum in Wales. A live two-headed tortoise named Janus can be seen at the Natural History Museum in Geneva, Switzerland.<ref name="janus">{{Cite web |last=Brahambhatt |first=Rupendra |date=2023-09-19 |title=The story of Janus, the two-headed tortoise who can't fit inside his own shell |url=https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/janus-two-headed-tortoise/ |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=ZME Science |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="janus-NHMG">{{cite web |url=http://www.ville-ge.ch/mhng/plan_galeries.php |title=Plan des galeries publiques |language=fr|trans-title=Plan of the public galleries |access-date=May 13, 2011}}</ref>

====Anatomy and fitness==== In cases where multiple heads are fully developed and non-parasitic, they share control of the organs and limbs, though the specific structure of the connections varies. Animals often move in a disoriented and dizzy fashion, with the brains "arguing" with each other; some animals simply zig-zag without getting anywhere.<ref name="annexedturtle" /> Snake heads may attack and even attempt to swallow each other. Thus, polycephalic animals survive poorly in the wild compared to normal monocephalic animals.

Most two-headed snakes only live for a few months, though some have been reported to live a full life and even reproduced, with the offspring born normal. A two-headed black rat snake with separate throats and stomachs survived for 20 years. There is some speculation that the inbreeding of snakes in captivity increases the chances of a two-headed birth.<ref name="mayell2002">{{cite news |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/03/0318_0319_twoheadsnake.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020605181724/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/03/0318_0319_twoheadsnake.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 5, 2002 |title=Life Is Confusing For Two-Headed Snakes |first=Hillary |last=Mayell |publisher=National Geographic News |date=March 22, 2002 |access-date=March 10, 2006}}</ref>

===Questions on number of organisms=== It is difficult to draw the line between what is considered "one animal with two heads" or "two animals that share a body".

Abigail and Brittany Hensel, born in 1990, were given two distinct names at birth. They identify as two people, and are recognised as two people legally and socially.<ref name="time-hensel1">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/printout/0,8816,984307,00.html |title=The most intimate bond: Conjoined for life, the Hensel twins are a medical mystery and a lesson in cooperation for us all |first=Claudia |last=Wallis |magazine=Time |date=March 25, 1996 |access-date=December 31, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930062929/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/printout/0,8816,984307,00.html |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> On the other hand, Syafitri, born 2006 in Indonesia, was given one name by her parents because she only had one heart.<ref name="jakarta-syafitri" /> In early Germany, conjoined twins that could not be separated were legally considered one person.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bondeson |first1=Jan |title=The two-headed boy, and other medical marvels |date=2000 |publisher=Cornell University Press |location=Ithaca, N.Y. |isbn=978-0801437670 |page=182}}</ref> Millie and Christine McKoy were often referred to in the singular, including by themselves, with the name "Millie-Christine",<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kuroski |first1=John |title=How The Conjoined McCoy Twins Beat The "Freak Show" System That Had Exploited Them |url=https://allthatsinteresting.com/mccoy-twins |website=All That's Interesting |access-date=15 July 2021 |date=27 July 2017}}</ref> as well as plural.<ref>{{cite book|title= Biographical Sketch of Millie Christine, the Carolina Twin, Surnamed the Two-Headed Nightingale and the Eighth Wonder of the World|url=http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/carolinatwin/menu.html| location=Cincinnati|publisher= Hennegan & Co.| year=1902}}</ref>

In Peter Mogila’s 17-century ''Catechism'', the following instructions are given for baptism of polycephalic infants: should there be distinct heads and distinct chests, this means there are separate people each of whom must be baptised normally; if the heads and chests are not completely distinct from each other, however, one person must be baptised normally but baptism of the other(s) should be preluded by the formula "if not already baptised".<ref>Пётр (Могила). ''Требник митрополита Петра Могилы''. Том 1. Информацийно-видавничий центр Украинской Православной Церкви, 1996 (1646). 860 с. С. 32—33 (In Ukrainian and Church Slavonic)</ref>

With other animals, polycephaly is usually described as "one animal with two heads".<ref name="bbcsnake1" /><ref name="natgeotortoise1" /> One of the heads, especially in three-headed animals, may be poorly developed and malformed, and not "participate" much.<ref name="annexedturtle" />

===Two faces on one head=== Where twinning of the head itself is only partial, it can result in the condition known as diprosopus—one head with two faces.

==Earliest known occurrence== The February 22, 2007, issue of the journal ''Biology Letters'' detailed the discovery of a 122 million-year-old fossil of a two-headed ''Hyphalosaurus lingyuanensis'', marking the earliest known occurrence of axial bifurcation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livescience.com/1234-ancient-reptile-heads.html|title=Ancient Reptile Had Two Heads|first=Ker Than 18|last=January 2007|website=livescience.com|date=January 18, 2007}}</ref>

==List of notable occurrences==

===Humans===<!-- This list is sorted chronologically by birth -->

====Dicephalic conjoined twins (dicephalus parapagus dipus)==== [[File:Monsters & Prodigies 3.jpg|thumb|Lycosthenes' case, from ''Of Monsters and Prodigies'' (Pare, 1649)]] * Lycosthenes, who lived in the 1500s, described a pair of adult female twins who had separate necks but one body. Both heads ate, drank, slept, and spoke. They had to beg from door to door, "everie one giveing (''sic'') to her freely". They were banished to Bavaria due to fears pregnant women who saw them would give birth to similar children; nothing else is known of them.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey - Digital Collections - National Library of Medicine |url=https://collections.nlm.nih.gov/catalog/nlm:nlmuid-2393053R-bk |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=collections.nlm.nih.gov}}</ref> * In 1990, Abigail and Brittany Hensel were born in the United States and went on to star in their own television show.<ref name="hensel">{{cite news |url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1590/is_n3_v53/ai_18773111 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050731073628/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1590/is_n3_v53/ai_18773111 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 31, 2005 |title=Joined for life - co-joined six-year-old Hensel twins share many body parts |first=Maria L. |last=Chang |work=Science World |date=October 4, 1996 |access-date=December 31, 2006}}</ref> * In 2000, Ayse and Sema Tanrikulu were born in Kahramanmaraş, Turkey.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/haber.php?haberno=94554 |publisher=Radikal |title=Conjoined twins' first steps |language=tr |access-date=November 4, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123184529/http://www.radikal.com.tr/haber.php?haberno=94554 |archive-date=January 23, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> * In June 2000, Carmen and Lupita Andrade were born in Mexico. They later moved to the United States with their parents for healthcare.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/news/article/Conjoined-Connecticut-twins-show-double-minded-11094160.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425205159/http://www.chron.com/news/article/Conjoined-Connecticut-twins-show-double-minded-11094160.php|archive-date=April 25, 2017|title=Conjoined Connecticut twins show double-minded determination|date=April 24, 2017|website=Houston Chronicle}}</ref> * In 2003, Sohna and Mohna were born in India.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Bound-by-destiny-life-may-be-a-bind-for-them/articleshow/720770.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214163303/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-06-05/chandigarh/27146530_1_manawala-pingalwara-authorities-twins |url-status=live |archive-date=December 14, 2013 |title=Bound by destiny, life may be a bind for them |first=Yudhvir |last=Rana |date=June 5, 2004 |work=The Times of India |access-date=December 31, 2006}}</ref> * On June 13, 2003, twin girls named Huda and Manal Abdel Nasser Mohammed Mahmoud were born in Asyut, Egypt.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=85&art_id=qw1055506862342B221&set_id=1 |publisher=IOL: News for South Africa and the World |title=Egyptian mummy gives birth to two-headed girl |first=Ozryel |last=Flannigan |date=June 13, 2003 |access-date=November 12, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20050416211027/https://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=85&art_id=qw1055506862342B221&set_id=1 |archivedate=April 16, 2005}}</ref> * In 2006, Syafitri was born in Indonesia. "Syafitri's parents gave the girls only one name because they shared one heart."<ref name="jakarta-syafitri">{{cite news|url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20060826.C03 |title=Conjoined twins still a mystery |newspaper=The Jakarta Post |date=August 26, 2006 |access-date=December 31, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929111229/http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20060826.C03 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 }}</ref> Syafitri died in 2006. * In 2007, Mary Grace and Mary Divine Asis were born in the Philippines with only one heart.<ref name="Philippines">{{cite news |url=http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/04/24/10120458.html |title=Doctors vow to save dicephalus twins from death |publisher=GulfNews |date=April 24, 2007 |access-date=April 26, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070616085056/http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/04/24/10120458.html |archive-date=June 16, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> They died on April 30, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philstar.com/nation/396744/conjoined-twins-tacloban-die|title=Conjoined twins from Tacloban die|first1=Ghio|last1=Ong|first2=Helen|last2=Flores|date=April 30, 2007|website=Philstar.com}}</ref> * On August 25, 2008, a baby boy named Kiron was born with two heads in south-western Bangladesh.<ref name="Sydney">{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/thousands-flock-to-see-bangladesh-baby/2008/08/28/1219516605585.html |title=Two-headed baby born in Bangladesh |date=August 28, 2008 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=August 28, 2008}}</ref> The baby was described by the gynaecologist present at the birth as having "one stomach and he is eating normally with his two mouths. He has one genital organ and a full set of limbs". He died on August 28, 2009.<ref name="Sky">{{cite news |url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Bangladesh-Baby-Kiron-Born-With-Two-Heads-Dies-After-Developing-Fever-Says-Doctor/Article/200808415088340?f=rss |title=A baby boy born with two heads has died after developing a fever and breathing difficulties, a Bangladeshi doctor says. |date=August 28, 2008 |publisher=Sky News |access-date=August 28, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123154443/http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Bangladesh-Baby-Kiron-Born-With-Two-Heads-Dies-After-Developing-Fever-Says-Doctor/Article/200808415088340?f=rss |archive-date=January 23, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> * In July 2009, dicephalic twins were born in Indonesia with two hearts but sharing all other internal organs.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/26/indonesia.conjoined.twins/index.html |publisher=CNN |title=Conjoined twins born with one body |date=July 26, 2009 |access-date=July 26, 2009}}</ref> * In 2011, Sueli Ferreira gave birth to a child with two heads in Campina Grande, in Paraíba state, Brazil, but the baby died a few hours later because of lack of oxygen to one of the heads.<ref name="foxnews1"/> * On December 19, 2011, a pair of male twins, Emanoel and Jesus Nazare, were born in Marajó Island, Brazil. The children had two heads, two legs and two arms, sharing all the body below the neck. Each child had a separate spine, but shared a heart, liver, lungs and pelvis, and both brains functioned. The boys were featured on the Channel 4 programme ''Bodyshock'' on December 19, 2012, where it was reported they had died at six months.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pfeiffer |first=Eric |url=https://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/healthy-two-headed-baby-born-brazil-192245708.html |title=Healthy two-headed baby born in Brazil &#124; The Sideshow - Yahoo! News |work=News.yahoo.com |date=November 15, 2011 |access-date=May 2, 2012}}</ref><ref name="foxnews1">{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/health/brazilian-baby-born-with-2-heads/ |title=Brazilian Baby Born With 2 Heads |publisher=Fox News |date=April 7, 2010 |access-date=May 2, 2012}}</ref> * In March 2014, dicephalic twin girls were delivered via caesarian section at Cygnus JK Hindu Hospital in Sonipat, Haryana, in northern India. The babies reportedly have two heads, two necks and two spinal columns but share all major organs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-03-24 |title=2-headed baby born in India |url=https://www.foxnews.com/health/2-headed-baby-born-in-india |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref>

====Craniopagus parasiticus==== Craniopagus parasiticus is a condition in which a parasitic twin head with an undeveloped or underdeveloped body is attached to the head of a developed twin. Only four cases have been documented by modern medicine to have survived birth:<ref name="forteantimes1">{{cite web|last=Bondeson |first=Jan |url=http://www.forteantimes.com/features/articles/148/the_twoheaded_boy_of_bengal.html |title=The Two-Headed Boy of Bengal &#124; Articles &#124; Features &#124; Fortean Times UK |publisher=Forteantimes.com |access-date=2012-05-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405153845/http://www.forteantimes.com/features/articles/148/the_twoheaded_boy_of_bengal.html |archive-date=April 5, 2012 }}</ref> * In 1783 the "Two-Headed Boy of Bengal" was born in India; the second head was joined roughly upside down on top of the developed twin's head. The boy survived until 1787 when killed by a snakebite. * In 2003 Rebeca Martinez was born in the Dominican Republic with an extra head but died after surgery at the age of 8 weeks.<ref name="martinez">{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/two-headed-baby-dies-after-surgery/ |publisher=CBS News |title=Two-Headed Baby Dies After Surgery |date=February 7, 2004 |access-date=February 8, 2007}}</ref> * In 2004 Egyptian Naglaa Mohamed gave birth to Manar Maged who had the head and undeveloped torso of another child attached. In 2005 the second head was removed and later that year Naglaa appeared on ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'' with her surviving child.<ref name="naglaa">{{cite web |url=http://www.oprah.com/tows/slide/200505/20050519/slide_20050519_101.jhtml |title=It's a Miracle! The Two-Headed Baby! |date=May 19, 2005 |access-date=February 8, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070125184448/http://www.oprah.com/tows/slide/200505/20050519/slide_20050519_101.jhtml |archive-date=January 25, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Manar died from a brain infection in 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://english.pravda.ru/science/health/27-03-2006/77864-birth-0 |title=Doctors unable to save two-headed girl |date=March 27, 2006 |access-date=August 18, 2008}}</ref> * On January 20, 2021, a baby was born with two heads at the Elias Hospital in Bucharest, Romania, but died some hours after being born.<ref name="elias">{{cite news|url=https://m.stiridiaspora.ro/copil-cu-doua-capete-nascut-in-romania-caz-extrem-de-rar_460718.html |title=Copil cu două capete, născut în România. Caz extrem de rar |publisher=Știri Diaspora |date=January 20, 2021 |access-date= January 21, 2021}}</ref>

===Non-human mammals=== ====Cats==== [[File:Chaton à deux têtes.jpg|thumb|Two-faced kitten (Sorbonne University)]] thumb|Two-headed cat born in Paris, 1773. It only lived for a few hours. There have been numerous reports of two-faced cats; most die soon after birth. Reports of two-headed kittens are common, relative to other animals, because of their status as household pets. Recent two-headed kittens include: * On May 20, 2020, a two-faced kitten named Biscuits and Gravy was born in Oregon. He died after three days.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/24/us/biscuits-and-gravy-two-faced-kitten-dies-trnd/index.html|title=Biscuits and Gravy, the kitten born with two faces, dies|website=CNN |date=May 24, 2020 }}</ref> * On June 11, 2013, a two-faced kitten named Deucy was born in Amity, Oregon. She died two days later.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 June 2013 |title=Deucy, the rare two-faced kitten from Amity, dies |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2013/06/deucy_the_rare_two-faced_kitte.html}}</ref> * In November 2008, a two-faced kitten was born in Perth, Australia.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/twofaced-kitten-born-in-perth-20081120-6cp7.html |title=Two-faced kitten born in Perth |date=November 19, 2008 |access-date=November 19, 2008}}</ref> * In 2006, Tiger, a two-faced kitten, was born in Grove City, Ohio.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nbc6.net/family/9527052/detail.html |publisher=WTVJ |title=Kitten Born With Two Faces, One Body |date=July 17, 2006 |access-date=December 31, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927212542/http://www.nbc6.net/family/9527052/detail.html |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> * In March 2006, Deuce, a two-faced kitten, was born in Lake City, Florida, and was euthanized shortly thereafter, having come down with pneumonia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsnet5.com/family/4268157/detail.html |title=Kitten Born With Two Faces |publisher=WEWS |date=March 10, 2005 |access-date=December 31, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509071002/http://www.newsnet5.com/family/4268157/detail.html |archive-date=May 9, 2006 }}</ref> * In June 2006, Image, a two-faced kitten, was born and died later that year in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skewsme.com/twofacedkitten.html |title=Two-Faced Kittens |date=June 7, 2000 |access-date=March 10, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://html.channel3000.com/sh/entertainment/newsoftheweird/index.html |first=Nicole |last=Gomez |title=Two-Faced Kitten Has Image Problem |date=June 10, 2000 |access-date=December 31, 2006 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718234732/http://html.channel3000.com/sh/entertainment/newsoftheweird/index.html |archive-date=July 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> * In June 2005, Gemini, a two-faced kitten, was born in Glide, Oregon.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.oregonnews.com/article/20050616/NEWS/50616015 |title=Two-faced kitten shocks owner, veterinarian |newspaper=The News-Review |first=Dan |last=Traylor |date=June 16, 2005 |access-date=December 31, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070109123547/http://www.oregonnews.com/article/20050616/NEWS/50616015 |archive-date=January 9, 2007 }}</ref>

====Cattle==== thumb|Two-headed calf, Lausanne * A head mount of a two-headed calf is on display in the Museum at the Georgia State Capitol Building in Atlanta, Georgia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Capitol and the Museum |url=https://www.libs.uga.edu/capitolmuseum/about |access-date=December 9, 2024 |website=Georgia Capitol Museum}}</ref> * A two-headed calf was born in Frankston, Texas, on February 13, 2009. Reportedly, the owner/rancher, J. R. Newman immediately took the calf to his local veterinarian for examination/treatment. The veterinarian, Dr. James Brown, was quoted by a local reporter as saying, "I've seen slight variations [of this condition] but nothing like this before. This is by no means normal."<ref>{{Cite journal | date = February 19, 2009 | title = Rare two-headed calf born on Friday 13th | journal = The Frankston Citizen | volume = 99 | issue = 31 | page = 1 }}</ref> *A taxidermy of a two-headed calf can be found in St. Petersburg, Florida in the U.S. at the St. Petersburg Museum of History.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Odditorium – St. Petersburg Museum of History {{!}} St. Petersburg, Florida|date=June 2, 2017|url=http://spmoh.com/explore/exhibits/odditorium/|access-date=2021-07-09|language=en-US}}</ref> *A two-headed calf, born dead, made local news in Bartın, Türkiye.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Bartın'da şoke eden doğum |url=https://www.libs.uga.edu/capitolmuseum/about |access-date=May 22, 2025 |website=Bartınolay Local Newspaper}}</ref>

====Pigs==== thumb|Two-headed piglet; Old State House, Hartford, Connecticut

* In 1998, Rudy, a two-headed pig, was born in Iowa.<ref name="pravda" />

====Goats and sheep==== thumb|Two-faced lamb, Lausanne thumb|3-headed lamb, born 1577 * In 1577, a lamb with three heads was born in Blandy, France, and illustrated in Ambroise Pare's ''Of Monsters and Prodigies''. All three heads would bleat simultaneously, the center head being the largest of the three. It appears to have survived into adulthood.<ref name=":0" /> * Maine's Conant Museum had an adult sheep skeleton with two heads.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Anomalies and curiosities of medicine: being an encyclopedic collection of rare and extraordinary cases, and of the most striking instances of abnormality in all branches of medicine and surgery, derived from an exhaustive research of medical literature from its origin to the present day: abstracted, classified, annotated, and indexed - Digital Collections - National Library of Medicine |url=https://collections.nlm.nih.gov/catalog/nlm:nlmuid-57221200R-bk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018024351/https://collections.nlm.nih.gov/catalog/nlm:nlmuid-57221200R-bk |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 18, 2020 |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=collections.nlm.nih.gov}}</ref>

====Mice==== * A two-headed mouse was seen in Halle.<ref name=":1" />

===Reptiles===

====Snakes==== Most polycephalic snakes do not live long, but some captive individuals do.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/03/0318_0319_twoheadsnake.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020605181724/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/03/0318_0319_twoheadsnake.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 5, 2002 |title=Life Is Confusing For Two-Headed Snakes |work=National Geographic |date=October 28, 2010 |access-date=September 19, 2011}}</ref>

* Wyman saw a 2-headed snake, alive, in the Jardin des Plantes, Paris, in 1853.<ref name=":1" /> * Leidy found a 2-headed snake in a field near Philadelphia.<ref name=":1" /> * A two-headed black rat snake with separate throats and stomachs survived for 20 years.<ref name="nationalgeographic2002">{{cite news |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/03/0318_0319_twoheadsnake_2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051013065517/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/03/0318_0319_twoheadsnake_2.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 13, 2005 |title=Life Is Confusing For Two-Headed Snakes |work=National Geographic |date=October 28, 2010 |access-date=September 19, 2011}}</ref> * There are several preserved two-headed snakes on display in the Museum at the Georgia State Capitol Building in Atlanta.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cityguide.aol.com/atlanta/entertainment/venue.adp?sbid=62730 |title=Georgia Capitol Museum |publisher=AOL Cityguide |access-date=March 10, 2006}}</ref> * "We", the two-headed albino rat snake (see above).<ref name="wemsnbc"/> * A two-headed ladder snake, ''Elaphe scalaris'', was discovered near the village of Pinoso, Spain.<ref name="mayell2002"/> * A two-headed king snake lived for nearly 17 years at the Arizona State University.<ref name="nationalgeographic2002"/> * An extremely rare two-headed albino Honduran milk snake named Medusa was bought by Todd Ray.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/2018/03/two-headed-snake-has-extremely-rare-double-hearts|title=Two-Headed Snake Has Extremely Rare Double Hearts |work=National Geographic |date=April 9, 2019 |access-date=October 25, 2020}}</ref>

====Turtles and Tortoises==== [[File:Janus01b MHNG.jpg|thumb|The Greek tortoise "Janus", born in 1997, is in the Museum of Natural History of Geneva, pictured here in 2008.]] Two-headed turtles and tortoises are rare but not unknown. Recent discoveries include: * Born in 1997, a living two-headed Greek tortoise named Janus was displayed in the Museum of Natural History of Geneva in December 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Culture in Geneva |url=http://www.jjkphoto.ch/geneve_culture.htm |access-date=March 10, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=September 5, 2007 |title=Getty Images |url=http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/76515865 |access-date=May 2, 2012 |publisher=Getty Images}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Le Muséum est un outil au service de la préservation du patrimoine naturel |url=http://www.ville-geneve.ch/fileadmin/public/Departement_3/Publications/museum-histoire-naturelle-brochure-ville-de-geneve.pdf |access-date=December 10, 2016 |publisher=Muséum d'histoire naturelle de Genève}}</ref> * In 1999, a three-headed turtle was discovered in Tainan, Taiwan, by a villager named Lin Chi-fa.<ref name="pravda" /><ref name="annexedturtle">{{cite news |url=http://www.annexed.net/notes/acnanne10.html |title=Three-headed turtle destined not to go far |agency=Associated Press |date=January 27, 1999 |access-date=December 31, 2006}}</ref> * In 2003, a two-headed angulate tortoise was discovered in South Africa, with the only other known case in the region reported in the early 1980s.<ref name="natgeotortoise1">{{cite news |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/05/0529_053003_twoheadedtortoise.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030628052238/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/05/0529_053003_twoheadedtortoise.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 28, 2003 |title=Rare Two-Headed Tortoise Found in South Africa |first=Candice |last=Swarts |work=National Geographic |date=May 30, 2003 |access-date=March 10, 2006}}</ref> * In 2004, Solomon and Sheba, a two-headed Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise, was born in Dorchester, England.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4006351.stm |title=Shell shock at two-headed tortoise |work=BBC News |date=November 12, 2004 |access-date=December 31, 2006}}</ref> * In 2005, a two-headed olive ridley sea turtle was found in Costa Rica by the World Wildlife Fund.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.999today.com/environment/news/story/2394.html |title=Two-headed turtle found in Costa Rica |date=December 1, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060624171731/http://www.999today.com/environment/news/story/2394.html |archive-date=June 24, 2006 |publisher=999Today |access-date=June 30, 2013 }}</ref> * A baby turtle of unknown species was also reported in Havana, Cuba, in 2005.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.mongabay.com/2005/1001-reuters.html |title=Two-headed turtle found in Havana, Cuba |publisher=mongabay.com |date=October 1, 2005 |access-date=March 10, 2006}}</ref> * In 2006, a two-headed, six-limbed soft-shell turtle in Singapore named "Double Happiness" was also featured on a local television program, and again on another program in late 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://infopedia.nlb.gov.sg/articles/SIP_421_2005-01-03.html |title=The Chinese Garden (Yu Hwa Yuan) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061103191913/http://infopedia.nlb.gov.sg/articles/SIP_421_2005-01-03.html |archive-date=November 3, 2006 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> * As of 2007, there is a fully preserved common snapping turtle named Emily with two heads at the Science Museum of Minnesota.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smm.org/visit/collections |title=Collections Gallery |publisher=Science Museum of Minnesota |access-date=May 2, 2012 |archive-date=May 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503104336/http://www.smm.org/visit/collections |url-status=dead }}</ref> * A two-headed turtle named Thelma and Louise was born at the San Antonio Zoo on June 18, 2013.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/26/two-headed-turtle_n_3504540.html |title=Two-headed Turtle, 'Thelma And Louise', Hatches At San Antonio Zoo |work=The Huffington Post |date=June 26, 2013 |access-date=June 26, 2013}}</ref> * A two-headed yellow-bellied slider named "Jim and I" was found in Badin Lake, NC,<ref>{{Cite web |last=greensborosciencecenter |date=2013-08-15 |title=Meet Jim and I |url=https://greensborosciencecenter.wordpress.com/2013/08/15/meet-jim-and-i/ |access-date=2026-04-30 |website=Greensboro Science Center |language=en}}</ref> and lived at the Herpetarium in the Greensboro Science Center in North Carolina until their death.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.greensboroscience.org/attractions/zoo/animals/index.shtml|publisher=Greensboro Science Center |title=Animal Discovery Zoo Animal List|access-date=2016-07-10|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708203411/http://www.greensboroscience.org/attractions/zoo/animals/index.shtml|archive-date=July 8, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> *A two-headed turtle was found on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore by the National Park Service during a nest inspection on August 16, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crawford |first=Nathan |date=August 19, 2021 |title=Two-headed turtle discovered in the Outer Banks |url=https://www.qcnews.com/news/u-s/north-carolina/two-headed-turtle-discovered-in-the-outer-banks/ |access-date=29 June 2023 |website=Queen City News}}</ref> *A bicephalid (two-headed) Trachemys scripta elegans (Red-eared slider), born in 2015, is owned and cared for by Dr. Will Kirby.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tharp |first=Sharon |date=2025-04-14 |title=Big Brother's Dr. Will Kirby Introduces His New Two-Headed Turtle |url=https://parade.com/news/big-brothers-dr-will-kirby-introduces-his-new-two-headed-turtle-exclusive |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Parade |language=en}}</ref>

====Choristoderes==== In 2006, a paper published by the British Royal Society reported the discovery of a fossil of a two-headed embryo or neonate of the long-necked choristodere reptile ''Hyphalosaurus'', which was the first record of fossilized polycephaly.<ref name="Buffetaut">{{Cite journal |last1=Buffetaut |first1=Eric |last2=Li |first2=Jianjun |last3=Tong |first3=Haiyan |last4=Zhang |first4=He |date=2007-02-22 |title=A two-headed reptile from the Cretaceous of China |journal=Biology Letters |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=80–81 |doi=10.1098/rsbl.2006.0580 |issn=1744-9561 |pmc=2373827 |pmid=17443971}}</ref>

===Birds===

thumb|2-headed pigeon, 1775 * An account of a two-headed pigeon was published in France in 1734.<ref name=":1" /> * In 2020, a two-headed song thrush was poached in Syria.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.birdguides.com/news/two-headed-song-thrush-in-syria-causes-controversy/ | title=Birdguides.| date=January 13, 2020}}</ref>

==Mythological occurrences== [[Image:Hydra 04.jpg|thumb|The 16th-century German zoologist Conrad Gesner has been influenced by the Beast of Revelation in his depiction of the Hydra in volume four of ''Historiae Animalium''. ]]

===Mesopotamian mythology=== * Mušmaḫḫū, a seven-headed serpent related to mythology of Ninurta,<ref>Cuneiform Monographs 1: Mesopotamian Protective Spirits, The ritual texts. F.A.M. Wiggermann p. 164</ref> and Ningishzida.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcsl.cgi?text=t.4.19.2#|title=The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature|website=etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcsl.cgi?text=c.4.19.2&display=Crit&charenc=gcirc#|title=The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature|website=etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk}}</ref> Sometimes related to Mušḫuššu. * Humbaba, the guardian of the Cedar Forest, where the gods lived. A description from Georg Burckhardt translation of Gilgamesh says, "he had the paws of a lion and a body covered in thorny scales; his feet had the claws of a vulture, and on his head were the horns of a wild bull; his tail and phallus each ended in a snake's head."

===Greek mythology=== Greek mythology contains a number of multi-headed creatures. Typhon, a vast grisly monster with many snake heads, is often described as having several offspring with Echidna, a creature with the lower body of a serpent but the upper body of a beautiful woman. Their offspring, by one source or another, account for many of the major monsters of Greek mythos, including: * Cerberus&nbsp;– a monstrous multi-headed dog that guards the gate to Hades.<ref>("triple chains"), ''Hercules Furens'' [http://www.loebclassics.com/view/seneca_younger-hercules/2002/pb_LCL062.53.xml?result=16&rskey=CRLRlQ 60–62 (pp. 52–53)] ("triple necks"), [http://www.loebclassics.com/view/seneca_younger-hercules/2002/pb_LCL062.111.xml?result=16&rskey=CRLRlQ 782–784 (pp. 110–111)]; Statius, ''Silvae'' [https://archive.org/stream/statiusstat01statuoft#page/90/mode/2up 2.1.183–184 (I pp. 90–91)] ("triple jaws"), [https://archive.org/stream/statiusstat01statuoft#page/168/mode/2up 3.3.27 (I pp. 168–169)] ("threefold"), ''Thebaid'', [https://archive.org/stream/statiusstat01statuoft#page/396/mode/2up 2.31 (I pp. 396–397)], ("threefold"), [https://archive.org/stream/statiusstat01statuoft#page/398/mode/2up 2.53 (I pp. 398–399)] ("tri-formed"); Propertius, ''Elegies'' [http://www.loebclassics.com/view/propertius-elegies/1990/pb_LCL018.235.xml?result=2&rskey=Iew01V 3.5.44 (pp. 234–237)] ("three throats"), [http://www.loebclassics.com/view/propertius-elegies/1990/pb_LCL018.285.xml?result=2&rskey=Iew01V 3.18.23 (pp. 284–285)] ("three heads") Apollodorus, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text;jsessionid=9AC4F2564ED0593B31146372FEC08E36?doc=Apollod.+2.5.12 2.5.12] ("three heads of dogs").</ref> * Ladon&nbsp;– a sometimes hundred-headed serpent-like dragon that guards the garden of the Hesperides and is overcome by Heracles.<ref>Pseudo-Apollodorus'', Bibliotheca,'' 2, 113</ref> * Chimera&nbsp;– sometimes depicted with the heads of a goat and a lion.<ref>Hesiod, ''Theogony,'' 319-324</ref> * The Lernaean Hydra&nbsp;– an ancient nameless serpent-like chthonic water beast that possessed numerous heads. * Orthrus&nbsp;– a two-headed dog owned by Geryon. * Scylla&nbsp;– sometimes described as a six-headed sea monster.

Other multi-headed creatures in Greek mythology include: * The Hecatonchires&nbsp;– giants with fifty heads and one hundred arms. The word "Hecatonchire" means "hundred arms". They were the sons of Gaia, and Uranus. * Hecate&nbsp;– Greek goddess of witches, nightmares, crossroads, and one of the Moon deities; sometimes represented with three heads.

===Iranian mythology=== Zahhak, an evil figure in Iranian mythology – also evident in ancient Iranian folklore as '''Aži Dahāka''' (Azh dahak) – is the most significant and long-lasting of the ''aži''s of the Avesta, the earliest religious texts of Zoroastrianism. He is described as a monster with three mouths, six eyes, and three heads (presumably meaning three heads with one mouth and two eyes each), cunning, strong and demonic. But in other respects Aži Dahāka has human qualities, and is never a mere animal.

===Hinduism=== {{unreferenced section|date=March 2015}}

Hindu deities are often depicted with multiple arms or heads. * The fire-god Agni has two heads * Dattatreya: three * The creator-god Brahma: four<ref>{{cite book |last1=Moorcroft |first1=Christine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qeo2h_01HHoC&q=brahma+4+heads&pg=PA8 |title=Accessing religious education |date=May 2004 |publisher=Folens Limited |isbn=9781843036586 |access-date=2016-01-16}}</ref> * The goddess Gayatri: five * The war-god Kartikeya: six Though usually depicted with one head, some deities like Ganesha (in Heramba form) and Shiva (Sadashiva) have aspects where they are depicted with multiple heads; five in this case. The Vishvarupa form of Vishnu is described as having infinite heads.

Besides deities, demons (asura and rakshasa) may be depicted with multiple heads. The demon-king Ravana is depicted and described as having ten heads, although sometimes he is shown with only nine heads because he has sacrificed a head to convince Shiva. Trishira, his son, is depicted with three heads.

Animal races in Hindu mythology like Nāgas (serpents) may have multiple heads. The Naga Shesha is depicted with five or seven hoods, but said to have infinite hoods. Uchchaihshravas is a celestial seven-headed horse. The divine white elephant Airavata is depicted with multiple heads, trunks and tusks.

===Taoism=== * Nezha, a god sometimes shown in "three heads and six arms" form

===Occultism=== * Bune, a dragon with the heads of a dog, a griffin, and a man, in occultism

===Ancient Mediterranean civilizations=== thumb|The two-headed Janus. * Janus, a god in Roman mythology with a double-sided head * Nehebkau, a two-headed snake in Egyptian mythology {{-}}

===European culture=== [[File:Testa in pietra con più facce, da corleck hill, co. di cavan, I-II secolo dc. 03.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|The Corleck Head, Irish, 1st century AD]] * Various Ogres, Trolls, and Giants in European folklore and fairy tales * Double-headed eagle, a heraldic symbol * Triple-headed eagle, a heraldic symbol

===Eastern Europe=== * Balaur, a dragon with three, seven or twelve heads, in Romanian mythology *Kulshedra, with three, seven or nine heads in Albanian mythology * Svantevit, four-headed god of war and divination in Slavic mythology * Triglav (meaning "three headed") is a god or complex of gods in Slavic mythology * Zmey Gorynych, a dragon in Slavic mythology * Dragons in Hungarian folklore usually have three or seven heads

===Northern Europe=== * Þrúðgelmir, a six-headed giant in Norse mythology

===Japan=== * Yamata no Orochi, an eight-headed snake in Japanese mythology

===Korea=== * Jihaguk Daejeok, a nine-headed giant in Korean mythology

===Judaism=== The Talmud (Brachot 61a) says that originally Adam was created as a single body with two faces (which were then separated into two bodies - male (Adam) & female (Eve)).<ref>{{cite web|title=Talmud Bavli Tractate Berakhot|url=https://www.sefaria.org/Berakhot.61a.5?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en|website=sefaria.org |language=arc |access-date=4 October 2017 |quote=" דאמר ר' ירמיה בן אלעזר דו פרצופין ברא הקב"ה באדם הראשון... רב ושמואל חד אמר פרצוף וחד אמר זנב"}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Simon |first1=Maurice |title=The Soncino Babylonian Talmud Tractate BERAKOTH|url=http://www.halakhah.com/rst/zeraim/01b%20-%20Brochos%20-%2032a-64a.pdf|website=halakhah.com|publisher=Soncino |language=en |access-date=4 October 2017 |quote=" R. Jeremiah b. Eleazar said: God created two countenances in the first man,8 as it says, Behind and before hast Thou formed me.9 And the rib which the Lord God had taken from man made he a woman.10 Rab and Samuel explained this differently. One said that [this 'rib'] was a face, the other that it was a tail.11 ... 8. And out of one of them Eve was made. 9. Ps. CXXXIX, 5. E.V. 'Thou host hemmed me in'. 10. Gen. II, 22. 11. I.e., projected like a tail. "}}</ref>

The Zohar (introduction 1:9B / p.&nbsp;9B) speaks of descendants of Cain with 2 heads.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bleich|first1=J. David|title=Bioethical Dilemmas: A Jewish Perspective, Volume 1|date=1998|publisher=KTAV Publishing House |isbn=9780881254730|pages=311–312|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=clIrSyxlZ-MC&pg=PA311|access-date=4 October 2017|quote="25. Seder ha-Dorot, Tanna ve-Amoralm, s.v. . Pelemo, cites a state-ment of the Zohar indicating that Cain was exiled to a place known as "Arks," a locale in which everyone was born with two heads. Seder ha-Dorot explains R. Judah's retort as indicat-ing that Pelemo should go into exile to the same place to which Cain was exiled and that in that place he might appropriately pose his question but that elsewhere the question is frivolous and the intelocutor is deserving of excommunication. See also Zohar, Parashat Va-Ye, rei, p. 157a, and Zohar, introduction, p. 9b. The latter source speaks of descendants of Cain possessing two heads. Cf., R. Chaim Eleazar Shapiro, Ot klayyim ve-Sha-tom 27:9, note 13. See also Zohar, Hashmattot, Berrishit, pp. 2536-254a."}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Matt|first1=Daniel Chanan|title=The Zohar, volume 1|publisher=Stanford University Press |year=2004|isbn=9780804747479|page=63|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gHXqB_ITcDoC&pg=RA1-PA63|access-date=4 October 2017|quote="וארקא (Ve-arqa), And earth—the verse should read וארעא (ve-ar'a), [469] but ארקא (arqa) is one of those seven earths below, [470] site of descendants of Cain. After he was banished from the face of the earth, [471] he descended there, generating offspring. [472] He blundered there, knowing nothing. It is a dual earth, dualized by darkness and light. [473] Two officials rule there, one ruling darkness, the other light, inciting one another. When Cain descended there, they joined together—were completed as one—entirely befitting the offspring of Cain. So they have two heads [474] like two snake, but the one of light rules—prevailing, defeating the other. So those of darkness merged in those of light, and they became one. Those two officials are Mrira and Kastimon, [475] who resemble six-winged holy angels. One resembles an ox, the other an eagle, but when they join they are transformed into the image of a human being. [476] ... footnote 474. '''two heads''' On the two-headed descendants of Cain, see Beit ha-Midrash, 4:151-52; Judah ben Barzillai, Peirush Sefer Yetsirah, 173; Tosafot, Menahot 37a, s.v. o qum gelei; Zohar 1:157a; 2:80a; ZH 9b; Ginzberg, Legends, 5:143 n. 34; Ta-Shma, HaNigleh she-ba-Nistar, 125, n.84.}}</ref>

The Talmud (Menachot 37a) records an incident in which Phlimo asked Judah the Prince which head a two headed person should put on Tefillin. Judah was initially dismissive, but then another man came in saying that his wife had just given birth to a two headed baby, and asked a (different) halachic question.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Soncino Babylonian Talmud Tractate Menachot|url=http://www.halakhah.com/rst/kodoshim/42b%20-%20Menochos%20-%2027a-58b.pdf|website=halakhah.com|access-date=4 October 2017|quote="Pelemo enquired of Rabbi, If a man has two heads on which one must he put the tefillin?' 'You must either leave',10 he replied, 'or regard yourself under the ban'. In the meantime there came a man [to the school] saying, 'I have begotten a first-born child with two heads, how much must I give the priest?'11 An old man came forward and ruled that he must give [the priest] ten sela's... [footnotes] (10) Sc. the school. Rabbi thought that this question was put merely from a desire to scoff at him. (11) For his redemption. The fixed sum for redemption was five shekels (sela's in the Rabbinic tongue), cf. Num. XVIII, 16."}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Talmude Bavli Tractate Menachot|url=https://www.sefaria.org/Menachot.37a.36?lang=bi|website=Sefaria.org |language=arc <!-- not accepted here: Jewish Babylonian Aramaic--> |access-date=4 October 2017 |quote=בעא מיניה פלימו מרבי מי שיש לו שני ראשים באיזה מהן מניח תפילין א"ל או קום גלי או קבל עלך שמתא אדהכי אתא ההוא גברא א"ל איתיליד לי ינוקא דאית ליה תרי רישי כמה בעינן למיתב לכהן אתא ההוא סבא תנא ליה חייב ליתן לו י' סלעים}}</ref>

==Heraldry== {{further|Heraldry}} * Double-headed eagle * Triple-headed eagle

==See also== * Amphisbaena * Cephalic disorder * Chimera * Conjoined twins * The Corleck Head * Diprosopus * Janus * Supernumerary body part * Three hares * Vladimir Demikhov

==References==<!-- Biol. Lett.3:80 doi:10.1098/rsbl.2006.0580 --> {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{commons category|Two-headed animals}}

Category:Supernumerary body parts Category:Conjoined twins Category:Multiple births